Samsung's forthcoming smart watch accessory may be dubbed the "Galaxy Gear," based on new trademark filings by the company in its home country of South Korea, as well as in the U.S.

The Samsung SPH-WP10 launched in 1999.

The trademark applications apply to an Internet-connected smart watch, the Associated Press revealed on Wednesday. One application for the "Samsung Galaxy Gear" was made with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 29, while another was filed a month earlier for the "Samsung Gear" in South Korea.

The design of Samsung's forthcoming product is unknown, but the USPTO application did describe the device as a wristwatch, wrist band, or bangle. It also said the device will be capable of connecting to the Internet, making phone calls, and checking e-mail and text messages.

Samsung's trademark applications come after Apple has already filed for its own "iWatch" trademarks in Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and elsewhere around the globe. Despite those filings, Apple is not expected to introduce its own smart watch accessory until late 2014, with a focus on biometrics data such as heart rate monitoring.

Samsung already revealed in March that it was readying its own smart watch accessory, though the company failed to reveal details about the device. The new device would actually be Samsung's third stab at creating a wrist-worn device, with two previous devices representing full-fledged phones worn on the wrist. The SPH-WP10 was released in 1999, while the S9110 Watch Phone debuted in 2009.

The Samsung S9110 Watch Phone launched in 2009, a decade after its predecessor.

The name Galaxy suggests Samsung's forthcoming watch will fit in with the company's family of mobile devices that run Google's Android operating system. They include the flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone, Galaxy Tab line of tablets, and a range of other devices.

With Apple rumored to be working on a smart watch and Samsung also planning a future device, a number of other tech companies are also betting on a big future in wearable electronics. Products from Microsoft, Google, Samsung, and LG are said to be in the works, in addition to Sony's recently announced Sony SmartWatch 2, and currently-available options like the Pebble, MetaWatch, and I'm Watch.

I think Apple is at least seriously looking into wearable devices. But I've often thought Apple would be spending wisely if they has a dozen or so full-time people (mere peanuts!) doing nothing but planting really good, detailed red herrings about future Apple plans. Including bogus job postings, fake device IDs in web logs, red herrings inserted into programming code (only during early test builds), useless domain purchases and trademark filings, dummy ad layouts and web pages, and even physical prototypes and parts leaks, made the same way as real parts. Expensive but not that expensive, and worth it to keep your future plans from the competition.

I think Apple is at least seriously looking into wearable devices. But I've often thought Apple would be spending wisely if they has a dozen or so full-time people (mere peanuts!) doing nothing but planting really good, detailed red herrings about future Apple plans. Including bogus job postings, fake device IDs in web logs, red herrings inserted into programming code (only during early test builds), useless domain purchases and trademark filings, dummy ad layouts and web pages, and even physical prototypes and parts leaks, made the same way as real parts. Expensive but not that expensive, and worth it to keep your future plans from the competition.

It was confirmed long ago that Apple does have people that do just this, yep.

if Apple is releasing a watch or something, it sure will be funny to see the Samesung cloner stuff before iWatch and after iWatch. Cant wait to hear the...."it was an obvious progression of technology.." nonsense again. actually it will be sad to see Samesung and the rest of the cloners copying Apples stuff yet again and getting away with it.

It was confirmed long ago that Apple does have people that do just this, yep.

I wouldn't call that silly article a confirmation. A lot of tech companies have paid and unpaid interns. With unpaid ones they are limited in how they can be legally used. Basically they can't displace the duties of a real employee, but it can be a way for companies to hunt for bright students. I suspect that confirmation was something of that sort, intern duties meant to determine how the individuals approach various problems. There are other possibilities like menial projects that were simply doomed.

I know it's not the case, but it would by hysterical if all of these companies rushing to get smartwatch products out the door in anticipation of Apple, are all falling for a head-fake from Apple.

I have been thinking this myself, I was wondering if Apple planted this entire idea in hopes it competitors all jumped on the idea only to waste money time and resource on a non-starter product. When in fact Iwatch was something to do with TV not a piece of body jewelery

I think it would be a huge mistake if apple made an "iWatch". Every time I see this rumor it is easily dismissed. What can an "iWatch" do that an iPhone cannot do better? All the talk is a smoke screen...

I can honestly see Apple coming out with a really good design for a smartwatch. It probably will require pairing of some sort with an iPhone/iPod Touch and maybe even have some limited functionality when far from other iDevices.

What I see with all other designs out there is downright ugly. Too bulky IMO.

If Apple comes up with a design it'll probably look like the "Nike FuelBand", at least I hope Jony Ive can pull something subtle like that, out of his hat.

Let other manufacturers throw everything including the kitchen sink into their junk. A good designer doesn't just think of what he can put into his creation but also what he leaves out. In that respect, I trust Sir Jony.

What article? I'm talking about an interview with some guy from Apple in the early naughties who said exactly that: Apple has people who explicitly leak falsified information to see which of their suppliers and retailers to punish.

What article? I'm talking about an interview with some guy from Apple in the early naughties who said exactly that: Apple has people who explicitly leak falsified information to see which of their suppliers and retailers to punish.

Ahhh the old channel leaks to see which lie comes back.

"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" Mark Twain"Just because something is deemed the law doesn't make it just" - SolipsismX

What article? I'm talking about an interview with some guy from Apple in the early naughties who said exactly that: Apple has people who explicitly leak falsified information to see which of their suppliers and retailers to punish.